60 Book 4 - Chapter 118

M1 Y:2142

Inter-Academy Round 4 Fortescue Points: 418, Rank: 6, PR: 0.5225

Term: 3, Round: 4

Daedalus Operating Capital: +1,600,000 bitcreds

At first, two Mechs were visible and as they crossed the crest of the range more appeared behind the lead pair.

"Six so far," Daedo said calmly.

"We can't outrun them, not while carrying Gabe," Adele observed with her emotions coming through in the tenor of her voice. "Leave us. Go."

"No," Mace said.

"It doesn't matter. I doubt we can outrun these Mechs," Daedo stated. They were in exos with jumpjets, and while they were fast, first-rate Mechs could easily outpace them in straight line, open area speed.

Daedo brought up the sentry gun controls on his HUD.

"We could go back underground," Mace suggested.

They heard a large explosion which shook the ground they were standing on.

"Argh," Daedo grunted, "The operatives in the base. How many?" He asked Adele.

"Four teams of six," she replied peering at the horizon in the direction of the western mountain range. "What was the explosion?"

"Our main reactor," he replied. "I don't think it will take them long to disable our entire power system. And it will be before we can take out the Mechs."

The PPCs had an excellent range for their technology, but their max range was only five kilometres. They would lose reactor power to the sentry guns before the Mechs arrived.

"Do you know the operational plan?" Mace asked her Mother.

She shook her head, "No Dear. We only knew the role of our squad."

"Is anything else coming other than the Mechs?" Mace asked earnestly.

"I didn't know Mechs were coming! And I don't know what the other squads are up to either." She said apologetically.

"I can think of three options," Daedo said. "They basically boil down to; we fight, we hide, or we surrender."

"Fight," Mace said immediately.

Her Mother nodded slowly. "If we surrender, Ameline and Gabe are dead for sure. Even if we pretended to facilitate the surrender. Hiding could work, but do you have help on the way?"

Daedo shook his head. "I expressly ordered them to stay away. It would take them at least four hours to get here." There was no only the travel time, but no mission prep had been completed. The rest of Daedalus wasn't on standby ready to sortie, and if Daedo had to guess it would take them a few hours at least to fully mobilise with Mechs.

"We fight," he agreed. "I don't want to bring the others into this if possible. We don't know the capability of those Mechs or if more enemy armaments are inbound."

Daedo: we need the diggers to cut us a new entry into the sentry gun tunnel network.

Myrmidon: and assist with taking down the enemy operatives?

Daedo: yes. Can you block their access to the network now? But don't put the diggers at risk, we will need them.

Myrmidon: I will work with AEMO. Retrace one hundred and twenty metres and wait.

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Daedo started moving back into the tunnel where they exited minutes earlier. He brought up a map on his and Mace's HUD which Myrmidon began to populate.

He had his railgun, launcher and grappler. The goo grenades were depleted, but he still possessed smoke and frag grenades. Mace possessed almost a full arsenal of grenades.

Daedo hefted his railgun, looking at it momentarily. "The railgun round is meant for armoured opponents, any suggestions?" Daedo asked Mace and her Mother as they walked down the tunnel dragging Gabe.

"You can use Gabe's tranq darts," Adele suggested.

"Shoot them through the head," Mace said.

"I didn't want it to come to this," he said regretfully.

Adele was silent, she looked at her husband with concern, but she must have wanted to say something about surrendering when they had the chance. Before her daughter and now herself and husband had signed their own death warrants.

"It was inevitable," Mace said succinctly.

Myrmidon: keep clear, five metres.

The AI informed them as he painted a line on their HUDs. Within seconds the Digger broke through and began to turn one eighty degrees.

Myrmidon: follow 003. Keep five-metre clearance at all times.

Myrmidon or AEMO, Daedo wasn't sure, had worked out the most efficient way to dig into the sentry gun network whilst calculating their walk time from the surface and through the newly created tunnel.

"Digger 002 and 004 will cut off existing access tunnels, add a few traps while 003 is our escort," Daedo said out loud for Adele's benefit. Mace could see the plan on their HUDs.

"Sentry Gun 002 will be our base of operations. Gabe and Adele will encamp there while Mace and I hunt down the enemy operatives," Daedo said in a tone similar to when he gave orders to his squad.

"Mother, the diggers can close off this room if needed, and a prospector drone is preparing an air vent now," Mace stated.

Myrmidon was picking up the operatives by their activities, their stealth technology and the lack of the base of internal security sensors ensured the only source of information was when they caused some damage in an attempt to neutralise the sentry guns.

There were two more large reactors which powered the sentry guns, and all three had been networked together along with storage to facilitate a highly adaptable power supply system. This adaptability forced the operatives to take out all the reactors as they could not trace the power delivery design to find a weak spot. And if they profiled Daedo at all they should realise there was none, the system possessed his usual level of redundancy elements.

Myrmidon: Tunnel 0142 was closed at 1102.50. The operatives have a plasma cutter onsite now

Current Time is 1117

Daedo: estimate the time needed to breach Reactor 02.

Myrmidon: Estimated time of breach 1121.15

"We've got four minutes to set up an ambush," Daedo informed Mace.

Daedo: Myrmidon, remove risk avoidance from 002 and have it create a cave-in behind the breach at 1121.15

"Let's move," Mace said. She then placed a hand on her Mother's shoulder, who was bent over her husband checking his vitals. "See you later," she simply said in the way of a goodbye.

Daedo began moving as soon as Mace turned away from her Mother. They checked their remaining ordnance, and while they had enough railgun rounds to last a week, their grenades were limited.

"I've got a prospector building us some cover in the tunnel," Daedo informed Mace, "And we are cutting off their retreat."

"Are we going to eliminate all the operatives? Is that the plan?" Mace asked.

"No, the main objective is to destroy all their cutters. If they can't dig, they're impotent." Daedo stated. "Obviously we will have to negate any threat around their cutters first."

"We never had an underground match," Mace observed as they waited.

"I guess the Academy doesn't prepare you for everything," Daedo replied. "One minute, I'll take left."

Their HUDs showed a countdown timer for the breach. They both activated their shields, and the three-hour timer appeared for its use with life support as well. Fortunately, they were unlikely to use jumpjets which would decimate their energy storage if used in conjunction with the life support and shield.

As the seconds melted away, they aimed their railguns down the tunnel. They decided not to use smoke or frag grenades.

Myrmidon: Digger 002's sensors indicate approximately six operatives with a plus or minus two accuracy.

The stealth suits played havoc with the Digger's keen sensors even at this close range. It must have been within fifteen metres of the operatives as the cave in was due in mere seconds.

Digger 002 first opened a vertical tunnel aimed behind the operatives breach into the sentry gun network. Instead of compacting the fill it was banking up behind the machine and on its mark if fell the two metres into the newly formed operative tunnel with several tonnes of sandy gravel behind it. Digger 002 pushed its way south, away from the operatives and began destroying the roof bringing down more material.

It had effectively trapped most of the operatives on the other side when it was attacked by some who were not caught in its trap. The massive mining drone was made of the most durable compounds and was designed to survive collapses of material up to ten tonnes in mass and with a significant force of up to 100kN.

As soon as it came under fire Myrmidon directed it to tunnel upwards dropping debris behind it while utilising gravity to assist its escape.

Meanwhile, Daedo and Mace had six operatives trapped on their side. They both began firing before the plasma cutter broke through the last few centimetres of tunnel sealant.

"Can a railgun round penetrate the plasma?" Mace asked.

"We are about to find out," Daedo replied.

The pair began to fire blindly into the thin layer hoping to surprise their opponents. The railgun round easily perforated the sandy gravel and what followed was a satisfying screech of metal. Without intimate knowledge of the plasma cutters design, they had to presume that a circle of incredibly hot plasma preceded the machine generating it, burning everything in its part.

Substances reacted differently when they met the ultra hot substance. Sand would normally turn to glass, however, at extreme heat, it would turn into a gas and float away. The heat transfer had to be regulated so it would not turn the material it was cutting through into plasma itself.

A ventilation system would then extract the gas and disperse it behind the cutter far and wide enough for it to dissipate safely. Moments after the resounding cracks of the railgun rounds impacting on the cutter were heard, the plasma front end appeared. And with it a dark gas which indicated the ventilation system had been compromised.

The pair kept firing into the cutter, where the high-velocity rounds over-penetrated the lightly armoured stealth suits, they were piercing the plasma cutter ferociously. The machine groaned in protest as round after round sliced through its body before finally succumbing.

The plasma leaked onto the ground, its magnetic shield inoperable, it began to burn a hole which it sunk into. More black gas escaped.

No operatives appeared from behind the cutter, it was offering them some protection, and it was probably far too dangerous to attempt to pass it between the railgun rounds and the leaking plasma.

"If we penetrate its power core it will explode," Daedo stated as he continued to fire upon the dying machine.

"Given the distance, cover, our shielding and armour we should be safe," Mace replied.

Daedo grunted. It would mean certain death for the operatives.

He fired one last time as the explosion engulfed the tunnel. They both ducked, but it was a mental reaction, no one had quick enough reflexes to beat the first shockwave. The cover which was meant to protect them from return fire ended up protecting them from the blast of an exploding plasma cutter.

Daedo looked at Mace. Her shield had been breached, and her armour was marked with black streaks. But otherwise, she was fine.

"Give the reactor ten seconds to charge and then restart your shield," he requested.

Mace nodded as she stood scanning the corridor in front of her. She laid one of her small spiderbots on the ground, and it crawled forward through the debris. She shared its feed with Daedo.

It was difficult to make out body parts from blasted equipment and earth, everything was black and exuding plumes of smoke, although one thing was certain, there were no survivors.

"Digger 002 was under fire from the other side. A couple of operatives weren't caught in the trap," Daedo stated.

Mace studied the map that Myrmidon and AEMO were continually updating. Tunnels being added, blocked, last known positions of operatives and their plasma cutters.

"We should swing around and take out my parent's plasma cutter," Mace offered, and Daedo nodded.

Daedo: Myrmidon can you provide us with a route to this position

A virtual three-dimensional display was generated for the pair and the AIs to discuss tactics in the dark tunnel.

Myrmidon: Digger 003 and 004 will create a new access tunnel from here, to underneath the foreign equipment and drop it down when you are ready.

As Myrmidon spoke, the new tunnel lines appeared.

Daedo and Mace went about their grim business, it was not the same as an Academy match. It lacked the banter from the positive Vannier, irreverent Kang, the upbeat Axelzero and the back and forth between Picard and Barran. Not to mention, no one died at the Academy.

They destroyed the second plasma cutter without challenge. Daedo turned to Mace, "Two on the map, what do you think?"

She looked thoughtful, there would be resistance from each, and they would be expecting an attack now.

"Death from above?" She asked.

"The jumpjets use a lot of power," Daedo replied. "We can't maintain them, shields and life support for a length of time and especially during an engagement."

"We should lie in wait then like we did the first time," Mace suggested.

"It won't be predictable?" Daedo asked. "You know these people better than I do."

"I don't. I only dealt with my parents; they were my trainers and my handlers," Mace replied.

"The Mechs are holding out of range of the sentry guns," Daedo stated changing the subject, and after another moment's contemplation, he concluded. "We will intercept them again. Its imperative they take down the power in order to get the mechs or any other reinforcements here. We will use that to our advantage."

"That's the Daedo I know," Mace replied with a brief and rare smile.

They moved off immediately towards the network of tunnels servicing the sentry guns and reactors.

Daedo: close the tunnel behind us. We will move to intercept from the sentry gun network again.

Myrmidon: we are tracking as best we can. The two plasma cutters are moving cautiously and working together now check your map.

Daedo: we've lost track of most of the operatives.

Myrmidon: we don't have the capability to track them, and without more data, I cannot predict their movements with acceptable accuracy.

Daedo: Understood.

A noise alerted Daedo moments before the impact. It was a whistling sound and made him immediately imaging something large flying through the air.

"Move," Mace yelled as she pushed herself backwards firing her jumpjets.

Daedo was not as quick, and he was suddenly fighting against an energized net pulling him to the ground. It consisted of thousands of tiny squares which carried a current, which was probably designed to short circuit his exo, but his shield nullified its impact. However, there were four or more drones pulling the net downwards and him with it.

As soon as he came to his senses he fired his jumpjets reversing the moment, he then grabbed the net with both hands and attempted to through it off.

If the net had been successful in deactivating his exo, none of this power would be available to him, but Daedo was fortunate that the shield was an unknown addition to his exo and extremely useful one acting as an insulator in this circumstance.

Mace expertly began to pick off the drones pulling the net.

"Focus on the operatives!" Daedo called, he was winning the tug of war with the drones and was about to swing the net back down the corridor.

The operatives fired gas and attempted to hit him between his armour segments with tranq darts. There was no chance the darts would penetrate the mesh underlay, not unless they had a burrowing capability, which they did not. The presumed sleeping gas was also useless when they were using life support.

As Daedo threw the net off himself and down the corridor, he noticed that some of the operatives were firing live rounds at Mace. They were only attempting to take him alive. This fact gave him the fortitude to bring his grenade launcher to bear and fire on their position using the closed spaces against them even when they had taken cover.

An explosion in a closed space was considerably more damaging than one in an open area. Their current frag grenade consisted of both shock and compound fragments designed to cut through exo armour. The shockwave had significant force alone and could kill, however with a heavily armoured exo the compound fragments were necessary to breakdown an opponents defences.

To operatives wearing lightly armoured stealth suits, the grenades were devastatingly effective.

Within seconds the operatives were dead with the exception of two which were not caught in the initial blasts and had escaped at full speed as soon as they realised their predicament.

The net had not worked. The cadet's armour was almost impenetrable to their weapons. Gas did not work. If they were wise, the stealth operatives would avoid the cadets after their third skirmish.

"Six more down," Mace said showing no emotion.

Daedo nodded sadly.

Without another word, they moved to protect the sentry gun emplacements. With the sentry guns intact holding reinforcements at bay and the stealth infiltrators being outclassed and outgunned the organisation had been thwarted thus far.

As Mace focused on their immediate area in case there was another surprise attack, Daedo's brain was working in overdrive theorycrafting a way to break the deadlock.

The pair arrived at the central junction near the outlying reactor and began to create lines of fire, barricades and traps utilising drones designed for prospecting.

They had moved and worked in silence for fifteen minutes before Daedo asked, "I have to make a call, can you create a secure connection to the net?"